System, computer product and method for event monitoring with data centre

ABSTRACT

A system, computer product and method for monitoring and disseminating data form a plurality of electronic devices via the Internet is provided. The plurality of electronic devices, or further electronic devices connected to the plurality of electronic devices, generate signal data. A computer product of the present invention is loaded on the electronic devices such that the signal data is collected via the Internet at a remote web server. The web server stores this data in a database such that a client can monitor its signal data by means of the web server, via the Internet. The present invention also permits the client to disseminate the signal data, including signal data meeting alarm parameters, based on business rules established by the client. A method for deploying the system of the present invention across a plurality of electronic devices, including electronic devices across a plurality of locations is also provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to systems, computer products andmethods for monitoring and disseminating data from a plurality ofdevices via the Internet. This invention relates more particularly tosignal data monitoring via the Internet across a plurality of alarmdevices, including across a plurality of locations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Intelligent electronic devices for generating signal data are wellknown. These intelligent devices are often connected to a knownmanagement system or controller.

For example, a series of intelligent devices are deployed across abuilding and connected to a building management system or “BMS”. Theintelligent devices connected to the BMS may include motion detectordevices, or various devices commonly associated with an HVAC system(Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning) such as temperature,humidity etc. sensors.

Still other intelligent devices monitor, for example, the cash levelspresent in ATM machines, or the functioning of manufacturing equipmentand so on.

In either case the electronic devices in question generate signal data.This signal data may relate to the environment of the electronic device,in the sense of a facility or equipment with which the electronic deviceis associated, or the operation of the electronic device itself. Ineither case, operators may desire to monitor and disseminate signaldata, and access reports based on this signal data.

There are known solutions for providing remote access to data generatedby an intelligent device, or a management system connected to aplurality of intelligent devices.

For example, www.automatedlogic.com discloses a particular solution forinterfacing with a BMS for the purpose of remote administration thereof,and generating and viewing reports based on data made available to theBMS, on a remote basis. This solution, and other similar ones, such asthose disclosed at www.automatedbuildings.com, www.tridium.com\niagara,the “TALON” solution described at www.sbt.siemens.com, and the “WIRELESSMATRIX” solution disclosed at www.intersatcorp.com all provide forsolutions for interfacing with a management system, including forexample by means of electronic mail notification to a remote device, orelectronic mail notification directly from an electronic device to aremote device.

However, it is quite common that a single operator will be connected toa plurality of management systems, or intelligent devices distributedacross numerous locations. This is the case where, for example, aplurality of buildings is under operation by a single entity, but a BMSis associated with each of these buildings. Similarly, an assembly linemay include more than one series of machines, each having its ownmanagement system, whereby management of the assembly line overallrequires access to each of the separate management systems. As a stillfurther example, an ATM is often associated with its own managementsystem, whereas a bank may operate thousands of ATMs in multiplelocations.

Therefore what is required is a system, computer product and method forproviding a central system for monitoring, accessing and disseminatingdata from a plurality of electronic devices or related managementsystems. It is desirable that the central system be easy to operate. Itis further desirable to associate the central system with a data centreaccessible via the Internet to provide ready access to signal datagenerated by the plurality of electronic devices or related managementsystems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide a system, computerproduct and method for providing a data centre connected to the Internetwhich can automatically access, evaluate, store and disseminate datacollected from a plurality of remote locations. The data is collectedfrom intelligent devices connected to a gateway device whereby thegateway device formats the data and communicates the data to the datacentre.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of an embodiment of the present invention isprovided herein below by way of example only and with reference to thefollowing drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is system resource flowchart illustrating the resources of thesystem of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a program resource flowchart illustrating the resources of thegateway computer product of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a program resource flowchart illustrating the resources of theserver computer product of the present invention.

In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way ofexample. It is to be expressly understood that the description anddrawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid tounderstanding, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Electronic devices that are adapted to communicate with remoteelectronic devices via a communication system such as the Internet, orIntranet connected to the Internet, are well known. These devices, atype of which is commonly referred to as a gateway device, are becomingmore and more common and are often deployed across multiple locationsfor multiple purposes, such as monitoring and facilitating remote accessto data, or facilitating the control of other devices connected to thegateway device. A gateway device typically includes a microprocessor,memory and an integral communication facility that permits a networkconnection via a serial port, in a manner that is known.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a system resource flowchartillustrating the resources of the present system, in an illustrativeimplementation of same in the environment of multiple clients 10accessing their respective signal data 12 from database 14 (shown inFIG. 3). Each of the clients 10 is associated with a client computer 16which may include any manner of device having a microprocessor, such asa personal computer, WAP device, personal digital assistant (“PDA”),wireless pager or the like.

At least one gateway device 18 is implemented in accordance with thepresent invention to detect events to produce signal data 12 in a mannerthat is well known. The gateway device 18 may in turn be connected in amanner that is known to an internal network (not shown) which in turnconnects the gateway device 18 to one or more other electronic devices21 capable of generating signal data 12. These electronic devices mayinclude a series of electronic devices connected to a management system23, whereby the management system 23 controls the series of electronicdevices 21 and generates signal data 12.

The signal data 12 generally includes data in the form of ASCII or someother computer readable format.

The signal data 12 contemplated by the present invention may include aseries of events or alarms defined in accordance with parametersgenerally defined by the devices connected to the gateway device 18 orto the management system 23. Therefore in accordance with thisinvention, the gateway device 18 receives information regarding eventsincluding alarms from such electronic devices 21, including in somecases via one or more management systems 23. These events may relate toenvironmental conditions, or operating conditions of other systems ordevices. It should also be understood that the gateway device 18 is alsoadapted to generate data regarding its own operating conditions, and forthe purposes of this invention, signal data 12 includes suchinformation.

For example, in the context of a BMS in particular, these parameters mayrelate to minimum and/or maximum threshold values related to temperaturedata, humidity data, data concerning status of alarm systems, and so on,in the context of a management system used in relation to a BMS.

The gateway device 18 is a known intelligent device that includes amicroprocessor, an operating system (not shown) such as WINDOWS CE™, amemory and one or more serial ports (also not shown), all provided in amanner that is known. The gateway device 18 is connected to acommunication network by means of a known communication interface (notshown), and in accordance with one embodiment of the invention to theInternet 22, as shown in FIG. 1. This connection to the Internet 22 maybe direct as between the gateway device 18 and the Internet, or via aLAN connection, as is well known in the art. The use of the Internet inaccordance with the present invention has the advantage of the costefficiencies that are inherent in transacting business electronicallyvia the Internet.

It is also desirable to provide some form of known layer of security asbetween an open network such as the Internet 22 and the gateway device18. This may be provided in accordance with a variety of knownsolutions, for example, by means of network security means 24 such as aproxy server or firewall, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In accordance with one aspect of the method of the present invention,the plurality of gateway devices 18 are deployed in accordance with therequirements of the various clients 10. In a representativeimplementation of the present invention, a plurality of gateway devices18 is deployed across several locations. In accordance with oneparticular embodiment of the present invention this is achieved byloading a gateway program 27 of the present invention to each gatewaydevice 18 by means of a known gateway loader program (not shown). Thisgateway loader program is a known tool for downloading differentversions of gateway program 27 depending on a number of differentcriteria, including the nature of the electronic devices 21 connected tothe gateway device, the specifications of the particular gateway device18, and desired functions of the gateway device 18 in relation toforwarding of signal data 12 as explained below. The gateway loaderprogram is best understood as a known program for delivering controlroutines to a series of electronic devices, including gateway devices18. The gateway loader program includes a menu of several differentroutines corresponding, for example, to different gateway devices 18,the electronic devices 23 with which the gateway devices 18 are meant tointerface, or the range of values 29 related to signal data 12, asfurther explained below. The different routines are selected by anoperator by selecting an icon that corresponds to the appropriatecomputer program, and loads same, in a manner that is known.

Therefore one aspect of the present invention is the computer product orgateway program 27 located at the gateway device 18 that provides thefunctions described herein, and in particular communication of signaldata 12 to the server computer 26 in accordance with the presentinvention.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2, in one embodiment of the presentinvention, the gateway program 27 provides to the memory 90 the IPaddress of server computer 26. The gateway program 18 also includes aknown connection routine 25 whereby when the gateway device 18 isconnected to the Internet 22, the gateway device 18 immediately contactsthe server computer 26, as particularized below.

Further in accordance with one aspect of the method of the presentinvention, as well as a feature of the gateway program 27, the gatewaydevice 18 is provided with means for understanding signal data 12received from the electronic device 21 or management systems 23. Fromthe perspective of efficient allocation of resources as between theserver computer 26 described below, and the various gateway devices 18connected to the server computer 26, it is desirable that the servercomputer 26 receive signal data 12 via the gateway devices 18 in a formthat the server computer 26 comprehends. Therefore, in the particularembodiment of the present invention described, the extent to whichsignal data 12 received at one or more gateway devices 18 is not readilyunderstood by the server computer 26, the gateway program 27 includes aknown translator 100 for translating signal data 12 into a predeterminedformat for delivery to server computer 26, as explained below.

In a still further particular embodiment of the invention describedherein, the gateway program 27 also includes functionality wherebysignal data 12, or particular signal data 12 meeting predeterminedcriteria, is buffered, or accumulated in batches, in a manner that isknown, before delivery to the server computer 26. This is to promoteefficient use of the resources of the server computer 26. For example,in an implementation of the present invention whereby a gateway device18 is connected to an electronic device 21 that generates data on anongoing basis, not all of which is of immediate interest to thecustomers of the operator of the present invention, signal data 12meeting these criteria is ideally buffered before delivery to the servercomputer 26. In relation to this particular embodiment therefore a rangeof values 29 defining which data is to be buffered, for example, isprovided to the memory 90 by the gateway loader program in a manner thatis known.

It should be understood that the gateway device 18, depending on theparticular gateway device 18 as well as the other electronic devices 21or the management systems 23 to which the gateway device 18 may beconnected, may generate a great deal of data. For example, a gatewaydevice 18 connected to a BMS may receive data regarding the variousvalues detected by humidity sensors, temperature sensors and the like.While a BMS is generally adapted to generate alarms, i.e. signal data 12that meets predetermined threshold values, in another aspect of thepresent invention it is contemplated that the range of values 29provided by the gateway program 27 may effectively modify whatconstitutes an alarm that is passed on as signal data 12 to the servercomputer 26. This may be desirable, for example, in the case of arelatively old BMS where the control programming is relatively difficultto modify, such that it is easier to implement modifications to whatconstitutes an alarm at the gateway device 18 than at the BMS.

When data is received by the gateway device 18 that falls within theparticular range of values 29, or which simply constitutes signal data12 where the gateway device 18 does not differentiate between datareceived from the electronic devices 21 or management system 23, thegateway program 27 is adapted to send an electronic message or gatewayelectronic message 33 to the server computer 26 in a manner that isknown, as best shown in FIG. 2. In one particular embodiment of thepresent invention the gateway electronic message 33 is sent in JMS. Itshould be understood that the gateway program 27 provides means forprogramming the particulars to the dispatch of such gateway electronicmessages 33, including for example the frequency thereof.

The system of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 3, includesa server computer 26, having its own connection to the Internet 22. Thehardware comprising server computer 26 is provided in a manner that iswell-known. The computer product 28 of the present invention resides atserver computer 26.

Said server computer 26 is provided in a manner that is well-known andincludes a processor and a database 14. For example, the server computer26 may be provided by a plurality of web servers, active directoryservers, database servers, email servers, exchange servers, andcommunication servers, in a manner that is well known. Database 14 isbest understood as a data centre, as is explained below. It should beunderstood that the present invention contemplates a plurality of servercomputers, or even several of the data centers contemplated by thepresent invention.

The server computer product 28 of the present invention is installed onthe server computer 26. Also, as best shown in FIG. 2, the servercomputer product 28 in co-operation with said server computer 26provides a communication means 32; a display means 34; a data exchangemeans 36 and an administration facility 38. The server computer product28 of the present invention also includes a data discrimination means200. The present invention also contemplates that the server computerproduct 28 includes a known data storage means for storing data todatabase 14 (not shown) and backup/recovery means (also not shown), bothprovided in a manner that is known.

The client information is provided to the administration facility 38,including the TCP/IP addresses of the various gateway devices 18associated with each particular client 10. Or, in a particularembodiment of the present invention, a function of the gateway loaderprogram 102 is to provide to the administration facility a uniqueidentifier for each gateway device 18 (such as a serial number) when thegateway program 27 is loaded to each gateway device 18. In this mannereach gateway device 18 deployed in accordance with the present inventionis already known to the server computer 26 when a gateway electroniccommunication 33 is received from an approved gateway device 18.

Therefore, in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, datadiscrimination means 200 is adapted to discriminate between datareceived from the gateway devices 18 and associated with clients 10, andunrelated data. Unrelated data is either ignored or published to a tablein a manner that is known that permits personnel of the operator of thepresent invention to confirm that the data is truly unrelated. Data thatis recognized by the data discriminations means 200 is processed by thedata exchange means 36 as particularized herein.

One aspect of the administration facility 38 is a tool whereby theoperator of the present invention can configure the gateway devices 18.This is conducted either on-line via a web based tool or through adirect connection using an Ethernet cable, in a manner that is known.Either way, in this particular implementation of the present invention aform or web form is used to select the appropriate configurations in amanner that is known. Clients 10 of the operator can also be givenaccess to this very same tool to send “control messages” as describedbelow, including for the purposes of modifying the programming of thegateway device 18. For example, the web form described herein maycontain fields including “IP ADDRESS”, “SUBNET MASK”, “DEFAULT GATEWAY”,“DNS SERVER”, SITE ID”, “PROXY SERVER”, “PROXY USERNAME”, “PROXYPASSWORD”, “SERVER TCP PORT”, “USER NAME”, “PASSWORD”, “DEBUG LEVEL”, aswell as other fields to modify the range of values 29 or otherprogramming as may be necessary.

The data exchange means 36 stores data communicated by the gatewaydevice 18 on an ongoing basis. Specifically, in a particular embodimentof the present invention, the gateway electronic message 33 contains notonly the signal data 12, but also the TCP/IP address of the gatewaydevice 18. The gateway electronic message 33 also includes the identityof the device connected to the gateway device 18 from which the signaldata 12 originated, if applicable. This TCP/IP address and deviceidentity data, or source data, is used by the data exchange means 36 totag the signal data 12 in a manner that is known. Accordingly, thesignal data 12 relating to specific gateway devices 18 or electronicdevices connected to a particular gateway device 18 are readilyretrievable from the database 14 in a manner that is known. It should beunderstood that database 14 of the present invention is a hierarchicaldatabase that supports queries across its contents, such that dataassociated with one particular client 10 is retrievable from thedatabase 14 across a plurality of gateway devices 18, the plurality ofconnected electronic devices 21 or management systems 23, and across aplurality of locations.

Another aspect of the administration facility 38 is management of accessto the data exchange means 36. Specifically, the administration facilitypermits the operator of server computer 26 to administer hierarchicalaccess by clients 10 to the system of the present invention, in a mannerthat is well known. In particular, administration facility 38 allowsadministration of security, membership profiles and preferences, in amanner that is well-known.

The operator of the administration facility 38 provides one or more username/password combinations to clients 10. The administration facility 38further provides an access facility 42 which is used by authorized usersof the client 10 in order to access the resources of the system byproviding the username/password combination referred to. Database 14 isprovided in a manner that each client 10 can only access its own data,in a manner that is known.

The administration facility 38 provides access by authorized users to apreferences facility 44 which is also provided in a manner that isknown. The preferences facility 44 allows authorized users to customizea number of aspects of the services provided by the system of thepresent invention. For example, the preferences facility 44 inassociation with the display means 34 displays a list of the gatewaydevices 18 and any related additional electronic devices 21 that areassociated with the particular client 10. The list may comprise a uniqueidentifier for such devices. The authorized user has the option oftailoring the names of such devices, such that they are recognizable tothe authorized user who will obtain alarm messages 46 from the system ofthe present invention, as explained below. The names or point namesprovided may relate to the location of particular devices, or some otheridentifier of importance to the authorized user.

The preferences facility 44 also permits the authorized users to programthe server computer product 28 to act in accordance with their businessrules 40, including specifically in relation to the manner in whichsignal data 12 is communicated to authorized users by the servercomputer 26 in the form of signal data or alarm messages 46. Alarmmessages 46 include an email message sent via the communication means32. The preferences facility 44 provides a series of known interfacesfor permitting authorized users to select their preferences regardingthe recipient of alarm messages 46, the manner in which certain alarmmessages 46 meeting certain threshold values may be escalated, forexample, to defined priority levels, or by copying yet anotherauthorized user, or security force, or emergency response team or thelike. These business rules 40 are saved in a business rules repository,as part of the database 14. The server computer product 28 automaticallyprocesses data of each customer in function of their particular businessrules 40.

One example of escalation, is that if the alarm message 46 contains datathat a particular device connected to a gateway device 18 is notfunctioning, then preferences facility 44 has been provided with theemail address or pager number of a service person, the communicationmeans 32 will contact such service person, providing the particulars ofthe alarm message 46, including for example the location of the devicein question.

A sample of a particular alarm message 46 is reproduced below forillustrative purposes only:

From: Dimax Controls Monitoring Sent: Saturday Jun. 15, 2002 8:00:10 AMTo: Jon Russell Subject: Dimax System Notification Point Alarm:Date/Time: Jun. 15, 2002 08:00:02 Site: Dimax Head Office Point Name:EAS_AIR_FAN Point Status: Digital Alarm Current Value: RUN EngineeringUnit: STOP/RUN

It should be understood that preferences facility 44 also permits theauthorized user to tailor the information first displayed by displaymeans 34 when the resources of the server computer 26 are accessed. Forexample, the authorized user may wish to see the following pagesdesignated by tabs in a known web interface: “HISTORIES”, “ALARMS”,“LOGINS”, “SYSTEM MESSAGES” and “ERROR MESSAGES”, in a typicalimplementation of the present invention.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the gateway program 27is responsive to control messages (not shown) received from the servercomputer 26. These control messages may contain instructions formodifications to the range of values 29 associated with a particulargateway device 18, whereby upon receipt of such instructions, gatewayprogram 27 in a manner that is known is adapted, after the receipt ofsuch instructions, to process and forward signal data 12 as explainedabove in accordance with the new range of values 29. The preferencesfacility 44 of the present invention permits the authorized user of theclient 10 to input such amended range of values 29 which as describedabove is then distributed to relevant gateway devices 18. Informationfrom the server computer 26 could also be sent to the gateway to cause achange in the devices 21 or the management systems 23. This informationwould be given by the clients 10 with appropriate access privileges andrelayed to the gateway 18.

It should be understood from the above that one of the advantages of thepresent invention is that the dispatch of alarm messages 46, forexample, in accordance with the then current business rules 40 isachieved across numerous gateway devices, over possibly numerouslocations, very easily and effectively.

Another aspect of the present invention is reporting by means of thereporting facility 54. The reporting facility 54 is best understood asan application program that permits the database 14 to be queried fordata associated with a particular client 10, and then reported inaccordance with the preferences of the client 10, across a plurality ofgateway devices 18. The preferences facility 44 provides means fordefining a plurality of client 10 specific reports. These may beselected from a menu of pre-programmed reports, or in another aspect ofthe present invention, the preferences facility 44 gives access to areport building tool 58 that is provided in a manner that is known. Thereport building tool 58 is responsive to input of logic commandsprovided in a number of fields which may include instructions forbuilding tools. The logic commands correspond to parsing rules such thatwhen the requisite fields are completed by an authorized user and theparticular report is “SAVED”, the reporting facility executes thecommands or parsing rules to run the report so built.

The reporting facility 54 is responsive to requests from authorizedusers to access the database 14 by means of the data exchange means 36to generate specific reports based on client specific data. Thesereports can be provided in a number of viewable formats in cooperationwith the display means 34. For example, display means 34 is adapted todisplay reports in HTML such that they can be read in a browser.Alternatively, reports can be exported as a .txt file or published toMICROSOFT WORD™ or .pdf format or other file formats and thendownloaded, or forwarded to another email address. For example, amonthly report on a specific topic based on client 10 data that was sentby gateway devices 18 for that client 10 could be sent by electronicmail to a predetermined electronic mail address.

These reports include, for example:

“TODAY's ALARMS” which contains that days signal data 12, includingalarms, with all relevant information across the various locations,gateway devices 18 etc.

“POINT ALARM QUERY” which provides live monitoring of a particularlocation, facility or device.

“GENERAL ALARM QUERY” which usually contains messages with instructionssuch as “CHANGE THE FILTER ON ROOFTOP UNIT”. The same is true for analarm message 46 based on the same signal data 12. The exact text of themessage either comes from a management system 23 or is programmed usingthe report building tool 58. This is yet another benefit of the presentinvention in that central monitoring in accordance with this inventionpromotes the ability of employees to act on alarm messages 46 or reportswithout having to interpret data supplied by the various electronicdevices 21 and/or management system 23. This is because the centraloperator may on an ongoing basis update the parameters of theprovisioning of the server computer such that alarm messages 46 areunderstood by the appropriate personnel.

“LIGHT ALARM QUERY”. This report includes alarm messages related to thehealth of a management system 23 such as a BMS. These systems generallyhave a self-monitoring facility such that an alarm is generated in“YELLOW LIGHT” conditions, for example, when a battery is low.

These alarm messages 46 and reports based on same are provided forillustrative purposes only. The present invention contemplates manyadditional reports depending on the various signal data 12 that could begenerated by the electronic devices 21 or management systems 23 ofcustomers, as well as the reports that they may require based on suchsignal data 12.

It should also be understood that the present invention contemplatesreal time updating of the client data accessible by mean of the dataexchange means 36. For example, as mentioned earlier, where anauthorized user is logged on to the system of the present invention, andnew signal data 12 is received by the server computer 26 that relates tothe client 10, that data will be displayed by display means 34 on thescreen shown to the authorized user at the time. This is done withoutneed to refresh the screen, in a manner that is known, for example bymaintaining during a user session a socket connection for duration ofthat session, such that a servlet process remains open and obtainsrelevant updates to from the database 14 with minimal delay.

Again, it should be understood that the database 14 is provided in amanner that clients 10 can gain access only to their own data.Specifically, this is achieved, for illustrative purposes, by taggingdata stored in the database 14 such that it is tagged in accordance withthe source thereof, i.e. the specific electronic device 21 from whichthe data originates. Also, within database 14, data originating fromparticular electronic devices 21 is associated with a particular client.Accordingly, queries to the database 14 by a particular client aresupported such that a client is only able to access its own data bysubmitting queries, in a manner that is known.

For the sake of clarity, it should be understood that while the gatewaydevices 18 are by their nature digital devices, they may be connected toanalog devices thereby being capable of interpreting analog signal in amanner that is know. In this manner the signal data 12 communicated bygateway devices 18 to the server computer 26 may include analog as wellas digital values.

One aspect of the present invention is that the administration facility38 provides means for programming how often a message is to be expectedfrom particular gateway devices 18. Therefore, if a message is notreceived at an expected time, a message is sent to the client 10, inaccordance with the business rules 40 for that client, as particularizedbelow. The gateway device 18 is configured to send a message to theserver computer 26 at regular intervals to ensure that the gatewaydevices 18 are still functioning and connected to the Internet, eventhough signal data 12 may not have been received recently.

Specifically, server computer product 28 may also include a “HEARTBEAT”function such that on an intermittent basis a message is sent out fromeach gateway device 18 to the server computer 26. The server computer 26is set up with business rules 40 according to the client's requirements,to measure the time gap between messages from each device. When anabnormally long delay between messages is detected in the servercomputer 26, an alarm message 46 can be generated or forwarded by e-mailas a notification of the loss of communication.

In operation, if signal data 12 is not being received from a gatewaydevice 18 even though the gateway device 18 itself is receiving signaldata 12 from the connected electronic devices 21 or management systems23, it is generally the Internet connection that is down, not thegateway device 18 itself that is not functioning. Another aspect of thepresent invention is that the gateway program 27 buffers messages whenthe Internet connection is down, such that once the Internet connectionis live again, any accumulated messages are sent to the server computer26.

Therefore communication means 32 provides means for the various clients10 via the various client computers 16 connected to the Internet 22 tocommunicate with server computer 26 and thereby access the featuresthereof described in this disclosure. As is best understood by referringto the explanation of the display means 34 above, the communicationmeans 32 provides means for transferring data to, and receiving datafrom, the data exchange means 36 by flat files such as e-mail or FTP(File Transfer Protocol) for transfer and receipt via the Internet. Thecommunication means 32 also provides means for creating directinterfaces between the data exchange means 36 and the computer systemsof various clients 10, for example, by means of secure VPN's (VirtualPrivate Network) or existing VAN connections, in co-operation with suchinter-system communication methods such as SOAP, XML, Message Queuing,HTTP/HTTPS, SMTP, Direct COM interfaces and the like. All suchinterfaces are provided in a manner that is well-known.

The database 14 of the present invention also provides in co-operationwith data exchange means 36 a data archive means 60 for archivingspecific signal data 12. It should be understood that in certainbusiness environments, for example, in relation to food manufacturing orpharmaceutical manufacturing, the proof of environmental or otherconditions falling within acceptable ranges over time can be veryimportant. The present invention provides an effective means ofreceiving data from numerous gateway devices 18 across numerouslocations, and archiving same, and accessing same in the form of reportsbased on such archived data provided to database 14 in a manner that isknown, using the reporting facility 54. This includes for example, “THISMONTH'S REPORTS” or reports for different time intervals, generallyacross all locations/devices, or for specific location, or specificdevices, or specific types of devices across different locations. Thepresent invention allows the distribution of the significant costsassociated with fulfilling these functions over several organizations.The data is also purged from the data store 35 thus ensuring that spaceis available for new messages.

It also should be understood that the proper monitoring of systems suchas a BMS, DDC system, HVAC controls, electronic cash register systems,alarm systems, PLCs in use for industrial automation, voicemail systemsand so on generally requires monitoring by an employee with adequatetraining and comfort level with technology. But particularly where thereare a number of different systems, distributed over a number oflocations, the joint monitoring of such systems becomes quite difficult.This results either in inadequate monitoring, or the need to hire moreindividuals to monitor the various such systems that may be associatedwith a particular operator. The present invention, however, provides amanner of providing central monitoring of more than one system, and on amore efficient basis. This permits better monitoring, and more efficientallocation of monitoring resources. In particular the operator of morethan one buildings each having a BMS may decide that rather thandedicate an employee to monitoring, at specific times it may wish toreceive only certain alarm messages from a plurality of locations.

Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. Forexample, numerous other features can be added to the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. These includesupport of different network connections, data security utilities,particular system architectures also supporting the functions describedherein, further reporting utilities, disaster recovery utilities,back-up utilities, automated problem resolution, help-desk resolutionincluding automated initiation of help-desk response, on-line FAQ's andthe like. In addition, the server computer 26 may be provided by meansof distributed servers located regionally to reduce the risk of downtime or server failure. In addition, alternate computer systems,enhancements or hardware configurations can be used in providing thesystem described herein. All such modifications or variations arebelieved to be within the sphere and scope of the invention as definedby the claims appended hereto.

1. A system for collecting and monitoring signal data across one or moreelectronic devices via the Internet comprising: (a) a web serverconnected to the Internet, the web server including a processor and amemory operatively connected to the processor; (b) a web applicationloaded on the web server; (c) a database; and (d) a database managementutility linked to the database, and responsive to the web application;(e) whereby the web application: (i) collects signal data from the oneor more electronic devices and stores the signal data to the database;(ii) provides monitoring for the signal data; (iii) is responsive torequests from one or more network connected devices in an authorizedtransmission to generate a series of web pages that display the signaldata to the one or more network connected devices without having toconnect directly to each said electronic devices; whereby said webapplication further includes a communication facility responsive toinput provided by a client of the web server for automaticallydisseminating signal data to the one or more network connected devices;whereby the web application is responsive to input defining businessrules of a client of the system for disseminating the signal data; andwherein the business rules include threshold parameters for escalatingsignal data to alarm data, and rules for disseminating the alarm data,including based on escalation thereof.
 2. A method of collecting andmonitoring signal data across one or more electronic devices via theInternet comprising the steps of: (a) providing a web server connectedto the Internet, the web server including a processor and a memoryoperatively connected to the processor, the web server further includinga web application loaded on the web server, a database and a databasemanagement utility linked to the database, and responsive to the webapplication; (b) deploying one or more electronic devices at one or morelocations, whereby the one or more electronic devices, or other devicesconnected thereto, generate signal data; (c) loading a communicationfacility linked to the one or more electronic devices for communicatingthe signal data to the web server; (d) collecting the signal data fromthe one or more electronic devices known to the web application at theweb server by means of the communication facility; (e) storing thesignal data to the database; and providing monitoring of the signal databy means of the database management utility whereby the web applicationis responsive to requests from one or more network devices in anauthorized transmission to generate a series of web pages that displaythe signal data from the one or more electronic devices to the one ormore network connected devices; (g) providing as an input to the webapplication computer instructions defining business rules fordisseminating signal data to one or more network connected device; and(h) disseminating the signal data based on the business rules byoperation of the web application.